Multi colours device illumination

ABSTRACT

A portable device having within it a multicolour illumination arrangement comprising: a surface; a plurality of light sources, at least one of the plurality of light sources being capable of generating two or more emission colors; and drive means for causing the emission color of the at least one light source to vary; whereby the illumination arrangement can produce a varying illumination through at least part of the surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the illumination of devices, and inparticular but not exclusively to the illumination of portable devicessuch as mobile communications handsets and personal digital assistants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of portable devices is a competitive one and it is generallydesirable for manufacturers to produce designs that are bothaesthetically appealing and user-friendly. Mobile communicationshandsets are known which include multicolour displays, illuminationeffects within the casing of the handset, or multicolour plasticcasings. In order to make a portable device distinctive it would bedesirable to produce such a device having an illumination arrangementsignificantly different from previously known devices, and preferablyhaving an illumination arrangement capable of improving theuser-friendliness of the device.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided aportable device having within it a multicolour illumination arrangementcomprising: a casing; a plurality of light sources, at least one of theplurality of light sources being capable of generating two or moreemission colours; and drive means for causing the emission colour of theat least one light source to vary; whereby the illumination arrangementcan produce a varying illumination through at least part of the casingthe illumination produced by the multicolour illumination arrangementcould vary in response to operation of a user input mechanism; andwherein the illumination arrangement comprises a diffuser arranged forblending light generated by the plurality of light sources.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provideda method for producing a varying illumination through at least part of asurface of a portable device, the device comprising a plurality of lightsources, at least one of the plurality of light sources being capable ofgenerating two or more emission colours, the method comprising drivingthe at least one light source such that its emission colour varies.

The user input mechanism could suitably be a control member rotatableabout its axis, such that rotation of the control member by a userconstitutes operation of the user input mechanism. The illuminationproduced by the multicolour illumination arrangement could vary independence upon the speed of rotation of the control member and/or couldbe dependent upon the orientation of the control member.

The multicolour illumination arrangement is preferably located aroundthe control member.

Alternatively, the user input mechanism could be a keypad, and themulticolour illumination arrangement could be located beneath thekeypad.

The device could conveniently be arranged to receive communications, andfurther arranged to vary the illumination produced by the multicolourillumination arrangement on receipt by the device of a communication.The communications receivable by the device could include at least oneof: telephone calls; SMS messages; video messages; photo messages; audiomessages; and emails. The illumination produced by the multicolourillumination arrangement could be dependent upon the source of areceived communication.

The device could further have a calendar application for identifying acurrent date or time, and the device could be capable of being arrangedsuch that the illumination produced by the multicolour illuminationarrangement varies in dependence upon the current date or time.

The device could further comprise one or more sensors for sensingambient conditions, and the device could be capable of being arrangedsuch that the illumination produced by the multicolour illuminationarrangement varies in dependence upon the sensed ambient conditions. Theambient conditions could include one or more of temperature and lightintensity.

The illumination produced by the multicolour illumination arrangementmay be dependent upon a current operational mode of the device.

The device could have a memory for storing one or more predefinedillumination patterns, whereby a user can select a predefined pattern tobe activated by the device.

The device could suitably be a radio telephone.

The surface of the illumination arrangement could be an operating fasciaand/or a front fascia of the device.

The varying illumination is preferably a graduated multicolourillumination.

The at least one of the plurality of light sources is preferably amulticolour light emitting diode.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided anillumination arrangement comprising: a plurality of light sources, atleast one of the plurality of light sources being capable of generatingtwo or more emission colours; a sensor responsive to one or moreexternal stimuli for generating a signal; drive means for causing theemission colour of the at least one light source to vary in response tothe signal; a user input mechanism capable of varying the illuminationproduced by the illumination arrangement; and further comprising adiffuser arranged for blending light generated by the plurality of lightsources.

The external stimuli could be ambient temperature, ambient light orelectromagnetic waves, and the electromagnetic waves could haveinteracted with a user input key.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an illumination arrangement;

FIG. 2 shows a rotator control member in conjunction with anillumination arrangement; and

FIG. 3 shows an illuminated keypad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary illumination arrangement comprising lightsources 1 a and 1 b which could, for example, be light emitting diodes.As indicated in FIG. 1, light source 1 a is arranged to emit blue light,while light source 1 b is arranged to emit red light. If the lightsources are sufficiently large and well separated for a viewer to beable to resolve the separate light sources at the distance from which heis viewing the illumination arrangement, then, in the absence of anycomponents modifying the light emitted by light sources 1 a and 1 b, theviewer would observe distinct sources of red and blue light.

A diffusion layer 2 is positioned in the viewing direction of the lightsources 1 a and 1 b in the example shown in FIG. 1. This layer couldsuitably be formed of translucent plastic or of any other material thatwould act to diffuse light emitted by the light sources 1 a and 1 b. Thediffuser 2 acts to blend the light emitted by the two light sources insuch a way that a viewer could observe a colour consisting of acombination of red and blue light: a ray of blue light 6 emitted fromlight source 1 a would be caused to combine with a ray of red light 7emitted from light source 1 b in the diffusion layer 2, and a resultingmagenta colour would be incident on the viewer's eye. However, lightrays entering the viewer's eye from parts of the diffusion layer locatedcloser to either of the light sources would contain a stronger componentof one or other of the emission colours of light sources 1 a and 1 b.For example, light exiting the diffusion layer 2 from the region 3 wouldconsist mainly of blue light because more blue light than red light isincident on this region of the diffusion layer. Light emitted from theregion 5 would contain roughly equal proportions of red and blue light,assuming that the intensities of the light emitted by sources 1 a and 1b are roughly the same.

The diffusion layer in this embodiment therefore gives rise to anillumination whose colour varies continuously from a colour close toblue near the region 3 and a colour close to red near the region 4. Itcan be seen that a range of colours consisting of varying quantities ofred and blue light is produced, thus giving the effect of anillumination of many colours from only two different light sources.

In an alternative embodiment, the diffusion layer 2 could be replaced bya diffuser placed between the two light sources 1 a and 1 b in such away that light emitted from light source 1 a in the direction of lightsource 1 b would be diffused, and light emitted from 1 b in thedirection of 1 a would be blended with the blue light from 1 a, andcombined light would be emitted in the viewing direction (as well asother directions).

The arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 could be located within a portabledevice 15, and the diffusion layer could suitably be an outer surface ofthat device. In this way, the surface of the device would beilluminated. Alternatively, a further layer, which would preferably belight transmissive could be positioned in the viewing direction of thearrangement to enclose the illumination arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, at least one of the light sources 1a and 1 b is a multicolour light source, that is, it is capable ofgenerating two or more emission colours. Multicolour light sources suchas LEDs are known to those skilled in the art of device illumination.Three-colour LEDs are well known, and these typically comprise threeseparate diodes, each of which can emit one of the colours red, greenand blue. By mixing the light emitted from the three diodes within asingle component, any colour in the visible spectrum could theoreticallybe achieved. However, known LEDs are only capable of emitting a limitednumber of colours within the spectrum. Seven-colour LEDs are also known,and these are capable of generating a larger number of emission colours.Such LEDs could suitably be applied to the present invention in order toproduce a large number of overall emission colours and effects.

By driving with a drive means 17 one or more of the multicolour LEDs inan illumination arrangement such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, avarying illumination can be produced. Attractive illumination effectsfor a portable device are therefore possible with the use ofillumination arrangements according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a section of a portable device having a rotatablecontrol member 9 which functions as a user input mechanism. In theembodiment of FIG. 2, the control member is a rotator wheel. Instead ofbeing round, as indicated in FIG. 2, the wheel could have other shapes,for example, it could be hexagonal or octagonal.

Light sources 1 c, 1 d and 1 e are arranged around the rotator wheel 9.These light sources are each capable of generating multiple emissioncolours. In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, when the rotatorwheel 9 is rotated by a user the emission colours of the light sourceschange. In FIG. 2A, the marker 10 shown on the rotator wheel 9 isvertically up. In this particular example, with the rotator in thisposition light source 1 c is emitting green light, 1 d is emitting bluelight and 1 e is emitting red light. In FIG. 2B, the rotator 9 has beenrotated clockwise and the emission colours of each of the light sourceshas changed accordingly. Light source 1 c is now emitting purple light,1 d is emitting yellow light and 1 e is emitting white light. This isvisually attractive to a user and can also be useful in assisting theuser with the operation of the device. For example, the device could bearranged so that the light source 1 e always emits white light when therotator wheel is in the position indicated in FIG. 2B, that is, with themarker 10 at about 30° clockwise from vertically up. The user could thenmake use of the illumination from light sources 1 c, 1 d and 1 e indetermining the current orientation of the rotator wheel 9. This couldbe particularly useful when the device is being used in a dark room.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which a diffusion layer 2 is arranged inthe region of a keypad 11 of a mobile communications device. The shadingin regions in 12 and 14 of the keypad indicates an emission colourgenerated by light sources located beneath the diffusion layer 2 inapproximately the positions indicated by reference numerals 12 and 14.In the remainder of the keypad, a different emission colour can be seenand this is due to a series of light sources located beneath thediffusion layer 2 in the unshaded area designated as 13. In the regionsof the keypad between the light sources of the first type in thepositions 12 and 14 and the light sources of the second type located inthe unshaded region, the emission from the keypad area is due to acombination of light from sources of the first and second types. One ormore of the light sources are arranged so that their emission coloursvary with time, and therefore the overall illumination varies. In otherwords, the illumination appears different one moment from how itappeared at an earlier moment.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 gives rise to a graduated illuminationeffect. That is, there is a transition in emission colour across thekeypad, from the emission colour of one light source to the emissioncolour of another, nearby light source. The transition could becontinuous.

Embodiments such as that described in relation to FIG. 3 could beadapted so that the pattern exhibited by the illumination varies withtime. Referring again to FIG. 3, the driving arrangement causing thevarious light sources to emit light could be adapted to change theillumination from that illustrated in FIG. 3 at one moment in time(which could, for example, be blue light in regions 12 and 14 and whitelight in region 13) to a different pattern at a later moment in time,such as with blue light in the top left and bottom right corners andwhite light in the region spanning the bottom left corner to the topright corner. The driving arrangement could suitably be set up to causethe illumination to cycle between a series of patterns.

It will be understood that the emission of light sources in embodimentsof the present invention could be arranged to vary in dependence on awide range of criteria. Some of the possibilities will be discussedbelow.

A portable device containing an illumination arrangement generally asdescribed above could also have a calendar function which keeps tracksof the current time and date. The calendar function could also storedetails such as appointments input by a user. The light sources of theillumination arrangement could be arranged such that the illuminationvaries in dependence on the current date or the time, which could be anabsolute time or could be relative to some arbitrary zero. Theillumination arrangement could also vary in dependence on a particularappointment becoming due, so as to alert a user to the appointment.

The illumination arrangement could be adapted to vary on receipt of acommunication at the device, and the illumination could also varyaccording to the type of communication received or the person from whomthe communication is received.

The illumination arrangement could also be adapted to vary according toambient conditions. If suitable sensors 19 were arranged in the portabledevice to detect ambient conditions, the illumination could varyaccording to the ambient temperature or the brightness of a room. Forexample, it may be desirable for a mobile telephone to be illuminatedbrightly in a dark room. Suitably, illumination settings could beadjustable by a user. Similarly, the illumination could vary in responseto the detection of ambient sounds, so that it could, for example,change in response to music being played near the device.

An operational mode of the portable device could also determine theemission from the illumination arrangement. For example, if a mobiletelephone were switched to “off” the light sources could be switchedoff, or if the telephone was in “discreet” mode, the illumination couldbe correspondingly dim or could have a particular setting to indicate“discreet” mode.

In one embodiment, a series of predefined settings could be selectableby a user, so that a user could choose an illumination to suit hiscurrent mood or environment.

It will be evident that any combinations of the features described abovecould be implemented. Specific features have been described herein inorder to illustrate rather than to limit the present invention.

The applicant hereby discloses in isolation each individual featuredescribed herein and any combination of two or more such features, tothe extent that such features or combinations are capable of beingcarried out based on the present specification as a whole in the lightof the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art,irrespective of whether such features or combinations of features solveany problems disclosed herein, and without limitation to the scope ofthe claims. The applicant indicates that aspects of the presentinvention may consist of any such individual feature or combination offeatures. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to aperson skilled in the art that various modifications may be made withinthe scope of the invention.

1. A portable device comprising: a casing; and a multicolourillumination arrangement comprising a plurality of light sources, atleast one of the plurality of light sources being capable of generatingtwo or more emission colours; drive means for causing the emissioncolour of the at least one light source to vary; and a diffuser arrangedfor blending light generated by the plurality of light sources, whereinthe illumination arrangement can produce a varying illumination throughat least part of the casing in response to operation of a user inputmechanism.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user inputmechanism is a rotatable control member, and wherein rotation of thecontrol member by a user constitutes operation of the user inputmechanism.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the illuminationproduced by the multicolour illumination arrangement varies independence upon a speed of rotation of the control member.
 4. A deviceas claimed in claim 2 wherein the illumination produced by themulticolour illumination arrangement is dependent upon an orientation ofthe control member.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein themulticolour illumination arrangement is located around the controlmember.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user inputmechanism is a keypad.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein themulticolour illumination arrangement is located beneath the keypad.
 8. Adevice as claimed in claim 1 arranged to receive communications, andfurther arranged to vary the illumination produced by the multicolourillumination arrangement on receipt by the device of a communication. 9.A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the communications receivable bythe device include at least one of: telephone calls; SMS messages; videomessages; photo messages; audio messages; and emails.
 10. A device asclaimed in claim 8 wherein the illumination produced by the multicolourillumination arrangement is dependent upon a source of a receivedcommunication.
 11. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising acalendar application for identifying a current date or time, and whereinthe device is arranged such that the illumination produced by themulticolour illumination arrangement varies in dependence upon thecurrent date or time.
 12. A device as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising one or more sensors for sensing ambient conditions, andwherein the device is arranged such that the illumination produced bythe multicolour illumination arrangement varies in dependence uponsensed ambient conditions.
 13. A device as claimed in claim 12 whereinthe ambient conditions include one or more of temperature and lightintensity.
 14. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the illuminationproduced by the multicolour illumination arrangement is dependent upon acurrent operational mode of the device.
 15. A device as claimed in claim1 further comprising a memory for storing one or more predefinedillumination patterns, wherein a user can select a predefined pattern tobe activated by the device.
 16. A device as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe diffuser comprises translucent plastic.
 17. A device as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the device is a radio telephone.
 18. A device as claimedin claim 1 wherein the said varying illumination is a graduatedmulticolour illumination.
 19. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein theat least one of the plurality of light sources is a multicolour lightemitting diode.
 20. An illumination arrangement comprising: a pluralityof light sources, at least one of the plurality of light sources beingcapable of generating two or more emission colours; a sensor responsiveto one or more external stimuli for generating a signal; drive means forcausing an emission colour of the at least one light source to vary inresponse to the signal; a user input mechanism capable of varyingillumination produced by the illumination arrangement; and a diffuserarranged for blending light generated by the plurality of light sources.21. An illumination arrangement as claimed in claim 20 wherein one ofthe external stimuli is ambient temperature.
 22. An illuminationarrangement as claimed in claim 20 wherein one of the external stimuliis ambient light.
 23. An illumination arrangement as claimed in claim 20wherein one of the external stimuli is electromagnetic waves.
 24. Anillumination arrangement as claimed in claim 23 wherein the saidelectromagnetic waves are electromagnetic waves that have interactedwith a user input key.
 25. A method for producing a varying illuminationthrough at least part of a surface of a portable device, the devicecomprising a plurality of light sources, at least one of the pluralityof light sources being capable of generating two or more emissioncolours, the method comprising driving the at least one light sourcesuch that its emission colour varies.
 26. A method as claimed in claim25 wherein the driving step is responsive to operation of a user inputmechanism of the device.
 27. A method as claimed in claim 26 wherein theuser input mechanism is a rotatable control member.
 28. A method asclaimed in claim 27 wherein the driving is responsive to a speed ofrotation of the control member.
 29. A method as claimed in claim 27wherein the driving is responsive to an orientation of the controlmember.
 30. A method as claimed in claim 25 further comprising receivingat the device a communication, and the driving is responsive to thereceiving step.
 31. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein thecommunication is at least one of: a telephone call; an SMS message; avideo message; a photo message; and an audio message; an email.
 32. Amethod as claimed in claim 30 wherein the driving is responsive to asource of the received communication.
 33. A method as claimed in claim25 wherein the device further comprises a calendar application foridentifying a current date or time, and wherein the driving isresponsive to the current date or time.
 34. A method as claimed in claim25 wherein the device further comprises one or more sensors and themethod further comprises sensing ambient conditions, and wherein thedriving is responsive to the sensed ambient conditions.
 35. A method asclaimed in claim 34 wherein the ambient conditions include one or moreof temperature and light intensity.
 36. A method as claimed in claim 25wherein the driving is responsive to a current operational mode of thedevice.
 37. A method as claimed in claim 25 wherein the device furthercomprises a memory for storing one or more predefined illuminationpatterns and the method further comprises receiving from a user an inputindicating one of the predefined illumination patterns, and wherein thedriving is responsive to the user input for activating the indicatedpredefined pattern.
 38. A method as claimed in claim 25 wherein thevarying illumination is a graduated multicolour illumination.